Ponoka, Alberta
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| Motto: | |
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| Census division | No. 8 |
| County | Ponoka |
| Area: | 13.35 km² |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Incorporated | 1905 |
| Population
Town Population |
6,330 (2001) |
| Population density | /km² |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC -7 |
| Postal code span | T4J 1E4 |
| Latitude
Longitude |
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| Elevation | 805 m MSL |
| Highways | Highway 2A Highway 53 |
| Waterways | Battle River |
| Mayor | Larry Henkelman |
| Governing body | Ponoka Town Council |
1(sc) According to the Canada 2001 Census. {{Canadian City/Extra references=Town of Ponoka website}}
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Ponoka is a town in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the south/central parkland region of rolling hills. Industries are agriculture (grain and cattle production), and oil and gas production. Ponoka is located at the junction of Highway 2A and Highway 53, approximately 50 km north of the city of Red Deer and about 100 km south of Edmonton, Alberta. The name Ponoka is Blackfoot for "Black Elk", the town flag depicts an elk.
Ponoka was founded on the land north of Fort Ostell in 1905 as a waypoint for the railway from Edmonton to Calgary.
The town is the seat of government for the County of Ponoka.
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[edit] Services and Facilities
The small town of Ponoka is home to many services and facilities. Fire service is provided by the Ponoka Volunteer Fire department. Policing is the responsibility of the Ponoka RCMP Detachment. General Bylaw enforcement is achieved through the town's special constable, in collaboration with the RCMP. Healthcare facilities include: The Ponoka Hospital and Care Center (formerly known as the Ponoka General Hospital), The Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury (Formerly The Alberta Hospital Ponoka), The Northcott Care Center, and The Rimoka Housing Facility. The Ponoka Hospital and Care Center is responsible for general healthcare, while the Centennial Centre serves as a care and treatment facility for mental health and is known for its outstanding brain injury unit. The Northcott Care Center and Rimoka Housing Facility both care for the elderly, with the Northcott Care Center focusing on care for handicapped individuals.
[edit] Events
Ponoka's claim to fame is the Ponoka Stampede, a six day rodeo at the end of June beginning of July, usually ending after or on the Canada Day weekend. During this period of time, the town is packed with holiday trailers and people wanting to watch the rodeo, or participate in the games, activities, and rides in the midway. This is advantageous to the small businesses in the area, as there can be up to four times more customers in their stores than any other time of the year. During Stampede time the population of Ponoka grows by approximately 400 percent.The Ponoka Stampede
[edit] Parks
Ponoka is home to the beautiful Wolf Creek Trail which starts at its southern end near the Ponoka Community Golf Course and travels northwards. The trail follows the Battle River several kilometers until it finally ends, in the middle of an empty field. Along the trail are several descriptions of various wild animals of the area and historical tidbits. Also along the trail system are several baseball diamonds, benches, and picnic tables.
Another major park in the Town of Ponoka is the Lions Centennial Park. The park is located along the west side of Highway 2A. The park contains a pond with a small dock, several bathroom facilities, a stage, a statue which is "The Worlds Largest Cowboy Riding a Horse Statue", The Centennial Time Capsule, several gazeebos with picnic tables, and The Fort Ostell Museum. The statue has gotten much criticism since it was built. This is because few people in town knew about the statue before it was built and didn't have a say on it. Many say the statue is disproportionate and unrealistic because of the cowboy's short limbs, straight sitting position, the horses short legs, the odd angles and bends, and the lack of any texture to the cowboy's shirt. It remains to be seen how long the statue will last as more complain about it.The Statue
There are many more small parks and playgrounds littered throughout the Town of Ponoka, most of which have been established by community groups and committees.
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Ponoka |
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Lacombe |
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[edit] External links
 Subdivisions of Alberta |
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| Regions | Calgary Region · Edmonton Capital Region · Calgary-Edmonton Corridor · Central Alberta · Northern Alberta · Southern Alberta |
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| Other | School districts · Regional Health Authorities |
